The NY Times traces the evolution of Obama on his "Path From Critic to Overseer of Spying".
Was he a poser, an opportunist or a liar for his Bush-bashing in 2007 and 2008? Nooo, he was (and is!) simply a man who cares passionately about protecting the American people:
WASHINGTON — As a young lawmaker defining himself as a presidential candidate, Barack Obama visited a center for scholars in August 2007 to give a speech on terrorism. He described a surveillance state run amok and vowed to rein it in. “That means no more illegal wiretapping of American citizens,” he declared. “No more national security letters to spy on citizens who are not suspected of a crime.”
More than six years later, the onetime constitutional lawyer is now the commander in chief presiding over a surveillance state that some of his own advisers think has once again gotten out of control.
...
Like other presidents before him, the idealistic candidate skeptical of government power found that the tricky trade-offs of national security issues look different to the person charged with using that power to ensure public safety.
Reality attacks!
Aides said that even as a senator, Mr. Obama supported robust surveillance as long as it was legal and appropriate, and that as president he still shares the concerns about overreach he expressed years ago. But they said his views have been shaped to a striking degree by the reality of waking up every day in the White House responsible for heading off the myriad threats he finds in his daily intelligence briefings.
“When you get the package every morning, it puts steel in your spine,” said David Plouffe, the president’s longtime adviser. “There are people out there every day who are plotting. The notion that we would put down a tool that would protect people here in America is hard to fathom.”
"Hard to fathom". Yet to earnest progressives, no doubt including Barack and Michelle, Dick Cheney is, well, Dick Cheney. Glenn Greenwald described progressive angst over Obama's transformation three years ago:
The American Right constantly said during the Bush years that any President who knew what Bush knew and was faced with the duty of keeping the country safe would do the same thing. Obama has provided the best possible evidence imaginable to prove those claims true.
And now Obama's aides are saying what we all knew.
The Times reporter askes us to endure a lot of rationalizations. One of my favorites is this "Trust me; After all, I trust myself" defense:
Mr. Obama undertook no major overhaul of the surveillance programs he inherited. “He’s sitting on the other end of the pen now,” said the former Obama aide. “He has more information than he did then. And he trusts himself to use these powers more than he did the Bush administration.”
Critics were told to go whistle:
When civil liberties advocates visited to press him to do more to reverse Mr. Bush’s policies, Mr. Obama pushed back. “He reminded me that he had a different role to play, that he was commander in chief and that he needed to protect the American people,” recalled Mr. Romero of the A.C.L.U.
Right, an argument Bush never thought of.
We are offered reassurance as to the wisdom of the American people:
He was surprised at the uproar that ensued [over the Snowden papers], advisers said, particularly that so many Americans did not trust him, much less trust the oversight provided by the intelligence court and Congress. As more secrets spilled out, though, aides said even Mr. Obama was chagrined. They said he was exercised to learn that the mobile phone of Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany was being tapped.
In other words, we didn't trust Obama to provide adequate oversight, and we learned (as did he, apparently) that he wasn't. Was it his weaponization of the IRS? The appointment of an Obama donor to lead the FBI "investigation"? Or did We The People sense that Barry was probably distracted from the NSA and fully absorbed by the implementation of HealthCare.Fail? Ooops.
Let me close with a priceless bit of psychoanalysis from the First Shrink:
Mr. Obama largely left [the security agencies] alone until Mr. Snowden began disclosing secret programs last year. Mr. Obama was angry at the revelations, privately excoriating Mr. Snowden as a self-important narcissist who had not thought through the consequences of his actions.
We'll file that under "Takes One To Know One".
Stay firsty, my friends.
FTA:
But they said his views have been shaped to a striking degree by the reality of waking up every day in the White House responsible for heading off the myriad threats he finds in his daily intelligence briefings.
Give him a quiz on what's in those briefings. I don't think he would pass.
Posted by: Jeff Dobbs | January 16, 2014 at 03:19 PM
well that's interesting;
http://beldar.blogs.com/beldarblog/2013/09/in-2011-obama-freed-nsa-from-restraints-on-domestic-spying-that-dubya-requested-in-2008.html
Posted by: narciso | January 16, 2014 at 03:21 PM
Obama is a phony.
Posted by: MarkO | January 16, 2014 at 03:22 PM
Look, Obama plans to use that data to a political advantage. Politics is his true north.
Posted by: MarkO | January 16, 2014 at 03:23 PM
--More than six years later, the onetime constitutional lawyer is now the commander in chief presiding over a surveillance state that some of his own advisers think has once again gotten out of control.--
Notice the subtle (or not so subtle) bias;
"...once again gotten out of control" as though he heroically reined it and then when he turned his back to shore up some other failing part of the republic, 'out of control' ensued.
Posted by: Ignatz | January 16, 2014 at 03:26 PM
Yes, Obama was/is all of the above. Yes, the media gave him a free ride on this. But it really didn't make a difference in either 2008 or 2012. Very, very, very few people cast their votes on this particular issue.
Posted by: steve | January 16, 2014 at 03:30 PM
privately excoriating Mr. Snowden as a self-important narcissist who had not thought through the consequences of his actions.
Everyone will readily pick up on the narcissist comment, but "had not thought through the consequences of his actions" deserves attention too.
Like, oh, I don't know, "turns out shovel-ready jobs aren't so shovel-ready" as a starting point.
Maybe throw in the "nuh uh, no way, I did not draw a red line" for good measure.
And the always popluar "if you like your plan, you can keep your plan, period" lie of the year.
But of course the meat on the bone here is the rest of the article regarding candidate Obama trashing Bush and president Obama not trashing a single policy of the Bush security apparatus.
Well, as MarkO just told us politics is his true north, and each of the above was done/said for political advantage, so it worked.
But then again, Snowden wanted to become an international hero and take the US down a peg and that worked too.
Posted by: Jeff Dobbs | January 16, 2014 at 03:30 PM
Years ago I went over this conundrum with a reasonable leftist on another blog. It came down to trusting the President. Well, who trusts Obama?
Posted by: Heh, Val Jarrett doesn't. | January 16, 2014 at 03:35 PM
Has any other president obtained office through as many blatant fraudulent activities and statements as Obama?
His lies go far beyond the usual hyperbole of even the foulest politician. Add to that the IRS voter suppression and we find a corruption never before seen.
Posted by: MarkO | January 16, 2014 at 03:37 PM
The NYT Headline calls Obama an "Overseer"... too funny.
Did they have any quotes of Obama asking "Massa Cheney" for Intel advice?
Posted by: NK(withnewsoftware) | January 16, 2014 at 03:38 PM
Just catching up - Beast Thoughts:
Wow, oh wow! I am constantly in awe of the connections I have made with my heart via a "chat site". Beasts is a delight – his sense of humor has always brightened a difficult day. I too am a very private person, so I appreciate his wish to remain anonymous. The past year has been the most difficult of my 55 years - physically, financially, and emotionally. Checking in with the "characters" at JOM has and always will be a Godsend. Their insight, humor, sarcasm, and wisdom leaves me with a sense of "hey, there is someone out there that thinks like me!"
I will pray for Paul. However, I would encourage him to "check-in" occasionally (even just to lurk), to let him know that each time he reads a comment from a JOMer, a prayer is being said for him.
Posted by: cindyk | January 16, 2014 at 03:41 PM
See, even the word "Overseer" is wrong, but it is at the root of all the incompetence we see.
"Oversee" is definition familiar in Board Rooms which is often at the root of dysfunctional organizations.
A Board guides policy and oversees.
A CEO Implements.
Obama has been confused about that from the start.
Did I say "dysfunction"?
Posted by: Old Lurker | January 16, 2014 at 03:48 PM
Cindy, I will drink tonight to your having a better 2014!
Posted by: Old Lurker | January 16, 2014 at 03:51 PM
Old Lurker: Many thanks - but drink two (just in case). Smile - your the best!
Posted by: cindyk | January 16, 2014 at 03:53 PM
"Trust me" by the President Coverup.
Posted by: matt | January 16, 2014 at 03:53 PM
NK:
The NYT Headline calls Obama an "Overseer"... too funny.
The NSA is out of control? Oops, oversight.
Wait. We're not closing Gitmo? Oops, oversight.
Did I *really* say no lobbyists in my administration? Oops, oversight.
Sooooo, handing out guns to Mexican drug gangs and not even trying to track them might not be the best idea? Oops, oversight.
You mean 9/11 might be a good time to beef up security at a diplomatic post in the middle east? Oops, oversight.
The IRS targeted conservative groups? Oops, oversight.
You're telling me a boatload of Americans won't be able to keep their health plan? Oops, oversight.
Healthcare.gov doesn't work? Oops, oversight.
Posted by: Jeff Dobbs | January 16, 2014 at 03:57 PM
Speaking of which, do we have a track record of how many Gitmo detainees have been released and how many have gone back to their evil ways? Do we have a record of which president should be held accountable?
Posted by: matt | January 16, 2014 at 04:03 PM
Well, funny you ask that, matt;
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/06/us-usa-guantanamo-recidivism-idUSTRE82501120120306
Posted by: narciso | January 16, 2014 at 04:06 PM
Those freed gitmo detainees are part of Bozo's jobs pivot, Matt. They're free to update their terrorist resumes and enter into jihadi skills retraining.
Posted by: lyle | January 16, 2014 at 04:07 PM
those words you are using;
http://nationalinterest.org/blog/paul-pillar/the-highly-competent-nsa-9707
Posted by: narciso | January 16, 2014 at 04:12 PM
Rich, Janet - if you guys meet for coffee, I might be able to join you (depends on the time & if any last-minute meetings for work crop up)
Posted by: James D. | January 16, 2014 at 04:17 PM
After four years as President the MFM still portrays Gaylord Focker as an outsider who isn't responsible for anything.
Posted by: Captain Hate | January 16, 2014 at 04:17 PM
from the Cock-taw nation genius ...
Video: Obama Calls The Dominican Republic “The Dominican Republican”…
http://weaselzippers.us/video-obama-calls-the-dominican-republic-the-dominican-republican/
Posted by: Janet - the districts lie fallow, while the Capitol gorges itself | January 16, 2014 at 04:22 PM
It's five, CH.
I'd feel better about the NSA if they could at least shut down Rachel from Card Services.
Posted by: Danube on iPad | January 16, 2014 at 04:23 PM
James D. - I left it for Rich to call me when you guys decided. I'm the most flexible & can meet up at any time. Maybe Rich didn't make it into Arlington.
Posted by: Janet - the districts lie fallow, while the Capitol gorges itself | January 16, 2014 at 04:25 PM
"Drone Assassin" actually sounds like a fun video game. I'd play!
Posted by: Cecil Turner | January 16, 2014 at 04:27 PM
'You must not read from the book;
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/paul-bremmer/2014/01/16/pbs-s-woodruff-lectures-gates-asks-him-if-he-s-worried-about-hurting-t
Posted by: narciso | January 16, 2014 at 04:37 PM
Is Woodruff still married to that corpse Al Hunt? BTW Judy is heading into dog track territory herself, isn't she?
Posted by: NK(withnewsoftware) | January 16, 2014 at 04:40 PM
Politico on 12-29-13:
"If Democrats get their way, the next phase of the Obamacare wars will see something unusual: a flood of success stories. The White House, Democratic lawmakers and advocacy organizations will launch a campaign this week to highlight real-life experiences under the Affordable Care Act — tales so compelling that they help drive up enrollment, marginalize Republican repeal efforts and erase memories of this fall’s HealthCare.gov debacle."
Has there been even a trickle of success stories, compelling or otherwise? Has any news outlet noted the promised "flood" is over 2 weeks late? If a monumental BOzo WH snafu occurs and the msm refuse to report it, did it really happen?
Posted by: DebinNC | January 16, 2014 at 04:43 PM
“When you get the package every morning, it puts steel in your spine,” said David Plouffe, the president’s longtime adviser.
Maybe if he attended a security briefing or two he could get a better sense on the risk. You know asking questions, and following up. Too much work for the light-worker.
Posted by: boricuafudd | January 16, 2014 at 04:53 PM
seriously Bob;
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/kyle-drennen/2014/01/15/katie-couric-bob-gates-was-your-book-bad-form-will-it-tarnish-your-rep
Posted by: narciso | January 16, 2014 at 05:08 PM
--“When you get the package every morning, it puts steel in your spine,” said David Plouffe, the president’s longtime adviser.--
That's what Reggie always said to, although I'm not sure he said spine.
Posted by: Ignatz | January 16, 2014 at 05:09 PM
Greta never holds anything back and on her blog she posts about events after the Benghazi attack where FNC was shut out from briefings, the she gets to this:
I can't help but wonder who the "good friend" in the Administration is?
Posted by: centralcal | January 16, 2014 at 05:14 PM
Katie still has a job?
Too bad Gates didn't respond point-blank by asking her why she didn't ask Paul O'Neil that question 10 years ago about his book. Or Scott McClellan.
Posted by: jimmyk | January 16, 2014 at 05:18 PM
Posted by: narciso | January 16, 2014 at 05:23 PM
Interesting link, cc. Thanks.
Posted by: Janet - the districts lie fallow, while the Capitol gorges itself | January 16, 2014 at 05:27 PM
Great Scott:
"House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who represents the City of San Francisco, showed reporters a bracelet she was wearing at her press briefing today to express her love of football. Then she got 49er Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana´s number wrong. 'I’ll just put my bracelet right out there,' Pelosi said, showing the charms on her arm. 'Joe Montana’s jersey number 14--well, anyway.' Montana wore number 16."
Posted by: Danube on iPad | January 16, 2014 at 05:27 PM
Has Perky Katie's drunken grind dancing tarnished her reputation? Watch out for incoming colonoscopies.
Posted by: Captain Hate | January 16, 2014 at 05:37 PM
Ah, so it's deja vu all over again for Katie, from narc's 5:23 link to 2004:
Couric: O'Neill Candid, But Stephanopoulos Was "Turncoat"
What a difference the target makes. Five years ago, when George Stephanopoulos wrote a book with critical insider accounts of President Clinton's White House, NBC's Katie Couric asserted the book "has many wondering whether he's a traitor or man of integrity," stressed how "a lot of people" see Stephanopoulos' book as "creepy" and she told him that they view him "as a turncoat, a Linda Tripp type." She was also upset by the timing: "Why now George? Couldn't this have waited until the President was out of office?" But this week, in introducing a segment with Paul O'Neill, Couric wasn't upset that O'Neill issued his charges in an election year as she recalled how "President Bush once praised Secretary O'Neill for his candor. He was called a straight shooter," but "today O'Neill is under investigation for a tell-all book that raises serious questions about the Bush administration."
Posted by: jimmyk | January 16, 2014 at 05:41 PM
Beautiful pictures taken by a mother of her children and their animals on their farm in Russia:
http://www.boredpanda.com/animal-children-photography-elena-shumilova/
These are really beautiful. Take a look when the world seems dark. Guaranteed to remind you of the goodness and beauty around us.
Posted by: Miss Marple | January 16, 2014 at 05:45 PM
And speaking of deja vu, and memory (from the other thread), this rings a bell, but seems to be new from a few days ago:
Rep. Barbara Lee and twelve other House Democrats issued a resolution stating that climate change can cause food and water shortages, which could lead impoverished women to turn to prostitution as a means of income.
http://www.ijreview.com/2014/01/107526-house-democrats-climate-change-turns-women-prostitutes/
Why wouldn't the resulting high food prices lead them to become farmers or ranchers?
Posted by: jimmyk | January 16, 2014 at 05:47 PM
What a talented photographer. Thanks for sharing that, Miss Marple.
Posted by: centralcal | January 16, 2014 at 05:49 PM
Mr. Obama was angry at the revelations, privately excoriating Mr. Snowden as a self-important narcissist who had not thought through the consequences of his actions.
He went on to describe Louis Farrakhan as a black guy from Chicago who doesn't like Jews, Craig Robinson as a basketball fan who's known Michelle Obama for a long time, and Joe Biden as an ignorant blowhard whose election to high office probably marks the death of the Republic.
Posted by: bgates | January 16, 2014 at 05:52 PM
""...once again gotten out of control" as though he heroically reined it and then when he turned his back to shore up some other failing part of the republic, 'out of control' ensued."
Nice spin away. But I think the reference is to a previous admin. You do know there was a previous admin, right?
Posted by: Wah Wahtusi | January 16, 2014 at 05:53 PM
No, I can't remember when there was another administration.
Each year under Obama is like a dog year, so our suffering has gone on for eons, it seems.
Posted by: Miss Marple | January 16, 2014 at 05:57 PM
Your short-term memory loss could be do to another problem.
Posted by: Wah Wahtusi | January 16, 2014 at 06:04 PM
What would that be, reading your drivel?
Posted by: Gmax | January 16, 2014 at 06:06 PM
Greta's observation is spot- on and shows the really creepy side to this administation of thugs.I am so sorry he got re-elected by lies and cover-ups.This is despicable behavior on the scale of Clinton's abuse of women and strong-arm tactics. I am waiting for the individual testimony of those brave soldiers on site and nearby Benghazi. My hope is repubs will use that information closer to midterm and the 2016 election. Hillary must be held accoutable for once in her life. I am sorry she hitched her wagon to a womaniser. that does not give her the freedom to lie and run rampant over our freedoms and play fast and loose with the lives of brave patriots.
She has escaped justice in the past and had her brief comeuppance in the 2008 election but her behavior in front of those caskets and and her brash, uncultured statements that MM chronicled make her unfit for any office in our nation. Let her give speeches to her adoring fans. She now resembles the diva in Sunset Boulevard.
Posted by: maryrose | January 16, 2014 at 06:10 PM
Nice pics, MM.
Posted by: Extraneus | January 16, 2014 at 06:11 PM
Iggy:
When you get the package in the morning...
I knew it was you commenting and I still laughed out loud in the library. You have a great sense of humor !
Posted by: maryrose | January 16, 2014 at 06:13 PM
Heh. I note how the trolls always attempt personal attacks.
Doesn't bother me.
Oh, good, they are running the results of Obama's "necessarily bankrupt plants who use coal" plan on Appalachia.
Of course it is on Fox.
My husband and I worked in the coal industry for years. Those miners take pride in their work and generations of families have worked as miners. Its devastating to tell a guy that he cannot support his family with that type of work and tell him he must move from a town he has been in for generations or work as a Wal-Mart greeter.
But then, it's white Appalachia, so Obama doesn't care.
Posted by: Miss Marple | January 16, 2014 at 06:22 PM
JamesD-
working on the numbers, but I think I can afford it...ain't cheap, but I like it.
Janet-
I called this afternoon and the phone just rang and had to make it back this way. I can get together tomorrow have a few more thing to check out on that side of town.
Posted by: rich@gmu | January 16, 2014 at 06:24 PM
Ah, yeah, Bush, way, way back in the good ol' days.
Posted by: Rope and chains, now Tootsie. | January 16, 2014 at 06:30 PM
>>>Has any other president obtained office through as many blatant fraudulent activities and statements as Obama?<<<
a state won through trickery and fraud...
"Some may wonder how it can happen that Agathocles, and his like, after infinite treacheries and cruelties, should live for long secure in his country, and defend himself from external enemies, and never be conspired against by his own citizens; seeing that many others, by means of cruelty, have never been able even in peaceful times to hold the state, still less in the doubtful times of war. I believe that this follows from severities being badly or properly used. Those may be called properly used, if of evil it is lawful to speak well, that are applied at one blow and are necessary to one's security, and that are not persisted in afterwards unless they can be turned to the advantage of the subjects. The badly employed are those which, notwithstanding they may be few in the commencement, multiply with time rather than decrease. Those who practise the first system are able, by aid of God or man, to mitigate in some degree their rule, as Agathocles did. It is impossible for those who follow the other to maintain themselves.
Hence it is to be remarked that, in seizing a state, the usurper ought to examine closely into all those injuries which it is necessary for him to inflict, and to do them all at one stroke so as not to have to repeat them daily; and thus by not unsettling men he will be able to reassure them, and win them to himself by benefits. He who does otherwise, either from timidity or evil advice, is always compelled to keep the knife in his hand; neither can he rely on his subjects, nor can they attach themselves to him, owing to their continued and repeated wrongs. For injuries ought to be done all at one time, so that, being tasted less, they offend less; benefits ought to be given little by little, so that the flavour of them may last longer.
And above all things, a prince ought to live amongst his people in such a way that no unexpected circumstances, whether of good or evil, shall make him change; because if the necessity for this comes in troubled times, you are too late for harsh measures; and mild ones will not help you, for they will be considered as forced from you, and no one will be under any obligation to you for them."
Machiavelli.
Posted by: rich@gmu | January 16, 2014 at 06:33 PM
MM:
So true. Manchin better wise up or he will not last very long in Congress. This war on coal must end. When we take the Senate back in 2014 I am hoping Manchin switches to Republican. I know he could get re-elected if he stopped the war on coal Obama started.
Posted by: maryrose | January 16, 2014 at 06:36 PM
Manchin needs to wise up on ACA pronto and put some teeth in it.
Posted by: maryrose | January 16, 2014 at 06:37 PM
Yes, jimmyk @ 5:47! How insulting are the Dems!
We have to find some way to amplify that...
HEY!
The Dems think you are too stupid to get an ID.
They think women will become prostitutes if the weather is lousy.
The Dems think you can't get into school on your own merit.
The Dems want to tell you what to eat, drive, & say.
The Dems - busybody elites tellin' ya how to live.
Posted by: Janet | January 16, 2014 at 06:44 PM
Miss Marple, the JEF has done poorly in Ohio' coal counties in 2008 and 12.
Posted by: Captain Hate on the iPad | January 16, 2014 at 06:46 PM
Captain Hate, I am not surprised.
What we need to do is get electric customers to understand why their bills are going up.
I hate those mines closing. They provided good money for many families.
Posted by: Miss Marple | January 16, 2014 at 06:48 PM
I wouldn't trust Manchin as far as I could kick him; if he switched to Repub he'd just be another backstabbing RINO.
Posted by: Captain Hate on the iPad | January 16, 2014 at 06:49 PM
Janet-
see my comment above.
Posted by: rich@gmu | January 16, 2014 at 06:52 PM
Captain Hate,
Switchers are sometimes trustworthy. Phil Gramm was one. So was Ronald Reagan.
Posted by: Miss Marple | January 16, 2014 at 06:52 PM
Miss Marple, there was a discussion among the Horde of the banned/voluntary exiled. For whatever reason, Jane D'oh is among the missing since before Christmas and Jones of CO was banned. I really really liked Jane D"oh.
Posted by: Captain Hate on the iPad | January 16, 2014 at 06:56 PM
Those are two good examples, Miss Marple; I just don't trust Manchin. That's just a gut feeling which could be wrong.
Posted by: Captain Hate on the iPad | January 16, 2014 at 07:00 PM
Okay, Rich. I'm mostly around keeping an eye on my father-in-law, but run a few errands in the day.
We'll keep tryin'!
Posted by: Janet | January 16, 2014 at 07:01 PM
Posted by: narciso | January 16, 2014 at 07:02 PM
I am sorry to hear about Jane D'Oh.
Well, either she got banned without anyone knowing or she got aggravated like Dagny and just left.
It's just such a shame this is happening. I lived under such a regime on FR and just left.
I read the site from time to time. Don't know whether I am still banned or not, since I have never attempted to reply.
I still think I was unjustifiable banned, since I made a mild-mannered protest and had never caused any trouble. So I am done.
Posted by: Miss Marple | January 16, 2014 at 07:03 PM
no problem. I was pooped from running around today anyway. I'll try to give you a call around 11 tomorrow-should be done with everything I need to do then. you too James if you can make it.
Posted by: rich@gmu | January 16, 2014 at 07:03 PM
Too bad about Ashleigh Banfield. Can't remember anything she had to say, but I always liked her.
Posted by: Extraneus | January 16, 2014 at 07:06 PM
""...once again gotten out of control" as though he heroically reined it and then when he turned his back to shore up some other failing part of the republic, 'out of control' ensued."
--Nice spin away. But I think the reference is to a previous admin. You do know there was a previous admin, right?--
I referred to this;
Yes they referred to it being out of control under Bush. For it "once again" to be out of control means there had to be an interlude where it wasn't. Since we can be pretty sure the Times would not credit Bush with getting it under control we can only assume they meant Barry did. You do know there was no administration between W's and Barry's, right?
Capiche? It's not that complicated.
Posted by: Ignatz | January 16, 2014 at 07:09 PM
Your treatment was horribly over the top, Miss Marple, and I don't blame you one iota for steering clear of the site.
Posted by: Captain Hate on the iPad | January 16, 2014 at 07:10 PM
Extraneus - the Banfield news was years ago (if you are talking about narciso's link). She currently works for CNN.
Posted by: centralcal | January 16, 2014 at 07:14 PM
just another mischief maker;
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2014/01/16/Report-Canadian-played-major-role-in-attack-on-Algerian-gas-plant/UPI-54311389911608/
Posted by: narciso | January 16, 2014 at 07:14 PM
Captain - I have tried to read the comments at Ace's on many occasions. It all seems like silly snark, one-liners, vulgar asides, etc. most of the time. How on earth does anyone get banned there? Guess I didn't read enough comments to appreciate what you and MM are referring to.
Posted by: centralcal | January 16, 2014 at 07:16 PM
Which is why I pointed to the Beldar link at the top of the thread;
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/16/irans-top-nuclear-negotiator-we-can-resume-enrichm/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS
Posted by: narciso | January 16, 2014 at 07:17 PM
She currently works for CNN.
Well that explains why I wouldn't know. (Not that I would anyway.)
Posted by: Extraneus | January 16, 2014 at 07:19 PM
centralcal,
I objected to Ace's posting a non-news thread (pretty vulgar, too) when there was breaking news.
My entire comment was something like, "Really? This is happening and you want to talk about this? I will be back later."
I didn't even know I was banned as I didn't come back until the next day and my posts disappeared. Then I found that I had been publicly attacked.
So, I never went back. It was an irrational response and for whatever reason, he doesn't like me.
So that's the entire story.
Posted by: Miss Marple | January 16, 2014 at 07:25 PM
"Capiche? It's not that complicated."
If it only had a living brain.
Posted by: Abadman | January 16, 2014 at 07:27 PM
One would think the pass one assigns GWB on 4th amendment issues would be a seamless no-brainer, and even less complicated than your efforts to camouflage the easy transition. Making the cognitive dissonance clear just requires some honesty, that's all.
Posted by: only useful when we want war | January 16, 2014 at 07:34 PM
Switchers are sometimes trustworthy. Phil Gramm was one. So was Ronald Reagan.
Gramm switched, but resigned from the House when he did so and faced the voters in a special election (which he won).
Reagan switched about five years before he was elected governor, which is not at all the same thing as what you say you want Manchin to do.
And why do you want Manchin to switch, and have a long career in the Senate? Can West Virginia not produce anyone better than a man who lied about being a conservative sort of Democrat, and who you now hope will lie to you again by changing party affiliation?
Posted by: bgates | January 16, 2014 at 07:36 PM
bgates,
I never said I wanted him to switch. That was someone else.
I just said that sometimes switchers are trustworthy and gave 2 examples.
If Manchin is a weasel, I don't want him.
Posted by: Miss Marple | January 16, 2014 at 07:38 PM
Good grief, that doesn't seem like much to get banned over. Captain Hate has shared some of Ace's comment dramas with us over the years, so I thought one had to really do something very over the top, like personally insult him! Silly me.
Posted by: centralcal | January 16, 2014 at 07:39 PM
I can't help but notice the ear lobes on Rubio and the urban legends about longevity.
It's sad that only the good die young. This chronically craven fool will be with us for many years.
Posted by: only useful when we want war | January 16, 2014 at 07:40 PM
Forget it, Jake. It's Dana.
Posted by: Danube on iPad | January 16, 2014 at 07:40 PM
Yes, I figured as much, of course we remember where they stood back in the day;
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2007/08/air-raiding-vil/
Posted by: narciso | January 16, 2014 at 07:47 PM
cc, in ace's defense he runs off trolls or edits them to make them appear even more absurd than their regular dumbassery; unlike another blog owner. The downside of that is he can get pissy at relatively innocuous comments such as Miss Marple's; and does that to a very high number of female commenters (he's very sensitive when that gets pointed out; Jane has noticed something similar too). I've learned to ignore him when he wades into the comment section with a chip on his shoulder; not unlike how I reacted to a certain pudgy bike-riding guitar strummer who lost what little mind he had. And by "ignore" I mean stop commenting and go do something else.
Despite all those abundant caveats, I still enjoy the site as a place I can cut loose.
Posted by: Captain Hate on the iPad | January 16, 2014 at 07:51 PM
Russell Johnson, who played The Professor on 'Gilligan's Island,' dies at age 89
Damn. We watch that show every night before bed, in between catheter commercials.
♫
Just sit right back
And you'll hear a tale
A tale of a fateful trip,
That started from this tropic port,
Aboard this tiny ship.
♫
RIP Professor!
Posted by: Extraneus | January 16, 2014 at 07:54 PM
Yes, his comment threads do seem like a place where one can "cut loose." I find some of them quite funny and clever. I just don't read there enough to get a sense of any real dialog flow of substance between commenters. That is not a criticism, just an explanation - I don't drop in there often enough to "get" the place.
Posted by: centralcal | January 16, 2014 at 08:01 PM
Welp Miss Marple and I met there. Some of the commenters are funny and insightful. narc posts there under another nic; so does Extraneous I think.
Posted by: Captain Hate on the iPad | January 16, 2014 at 08:18 PM
The Dems think you are too stupid to get an ID.
For far too many this is true.
They think women will become prostitutes if the weather is lousy.
The weather is a good excuse as any.
The Dems think you can't get into school on your own merit.
Affirmative action, social promotion, need I go on.
The Dems want to tell you what to eat, drive, & say.
If they don't then who will?
The Dems - busybody elites tellin' ya how to live.
That is exactly what the sheeple want, the smart ones to tell how to live.
Posted by: boricuafudd | January 16, 2014 at 08:37 PM
between catheter commercials.
Hah! or Geritol. My wife, I think I'll keep her.
Posted by: Janet | January 16, 2014 at 08:40 PM
so does Extraneous I think.
Nope.
Posted by: Extraneus | January 17, 2014 at 05:27 AM
Did everyone go to bed early last night or was there a problem with posting? Inquiring minds.
Posted by: Marlene | January 17, 2014 at 07:59 AM
the latter, Marlene, this Bennett fellow seems to catching some flack,
Posted by: narciso | January 17, 2014 at 08:00 AM
so does Extraneous I think.
Nope.
Sorry. Maybe it's Neo; somebody posts things there as "Islamic Rage Boy" which are identical to posts here.
Posted by: Captain Hate | January 17, 2014 at 09:03 AM
Good morning.
Posted by: Danube on iPad | January 17, 2014 at 11:37 AM
Amazing blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download
it from somewhere? A theme like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog shine.
Please let me know where you got your theme. Cheers
Posted by: Annetta | January 20, 2014 at 09:46 AM